Educating for a Shared Society Through MOOC

• In Event: A Long and Representative View of Peace Education Across the Globe

Abstract

"Educational Challenges in the Postmodern Era" is a massive online open course (MOOC) developed by the authors at Beit-Berl Academic College of Education in Israel. The course demonstrates a collaboration between Arab and Jewish students and lecturers, and it includes bilingual learning activities; it is the first and only MOOC in this innovative model. In this research, we explore students’ attitudes regarding the presence of the Other in their course, and whether this initiative promotes understanding and mutual respect between the two groups. The aim is to determine the extent to which participating in bilingual MOOC activities together with members of the outgroup diminishes attitudes of fear and alienation and contributes to attitudes of tolerance, shared society, and peace.

Authors

• Orit Schwarz-Franco, Beit Berl Academic College

• Najwan Saada, Beit Berl Academic College

• Aryeh Ben-Chayim, Beit Berl Academic College